Inventing is a colossal CHALLENGE and can become a colossal mistake if done poorly. On the other hand, inventing successfully is an AMAZING journey. What will define the type of experience you have is how many of the commonly encountered, and costly mistakes, you can avoid while trying to get to the ultimate finish line of your product going to market. And that experience should begin with the Comprehensive Independent Patent Search.
What Is the First Thing an Inventor Should Pay For?
The first thing an inventor should pay for is a comprehensive, independent patent search. That’s Wise Investment #1. The comprehensive, independent patent search includes three important components. And all three must be present in order for the inventor to have the necessary information to make the next set of business decisions.
Do NOT Limit Your Search to a Keyword Search
The first component of a good search of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database is that it CANNOT be limited to a keyword search. In other words, it has to be done by classification. Too many companies just do a keyword search, which only covers part of the patents filed and issued over time.
The USPTO has been in existence for more than 200 years! That’s a lot of patents and a keyword search can’t begin to cover them all. More information about the USPTO can be found on their website at: https://www.uspto.gov/
Inventors need to understand that a patent examiner from the USPTO goes all the way back to the beginning of patent filings to search. Thus, a comprehensive search for the inventor needs to cover the entire history of patent filings.
Above all, when it comes to inventing, having information sooner rather than later is paramount. It protects inventors (and their wallet) from making bad business decisions. It is better to know more about what has been filed and/or manufactured before all the money is spent on a patent filing.Â
Too many service providers want to make money on the inventor so they prefer to offer less information. The independent comprehensive patent search should be done by someone who is independent of any attorney or intellectual property office. That means their only obligation is doing the best search possible. As a result, the inventor is guaranteed a report that is unbiased.
Enjoy the challenge and the journey and stay tuned for the second and third components of the Comprehensive Independent Patent Search!
For more information, please visit our Inventor Issues blog at: https://www.www.searchquestpatents.com/blog-archive/